You are so right about the back slide of progress, but we are a capitalistic society, everyone wanting to make their share of the GNP. There is a local widow who opened a fabric shop in her garage in the late 60's. She carried mill ends at great prices. She had the fabric which London Fog used for their fashion's, wonderful cottons, luscious formal fabrics, and home decor rolls. As time went by, she let almost everything slide but the formal fabrics. She has put several additions on that garage, and everyone in town (who knows about her) goes there for prom, wedding, and fine suits and dress material and supplies. Her niche changed, but she still buys low, and sells reasonably. Gee, I wish she still carried cotton!